Sandra O'Neill

Ms.

Contact Details


Assistant Professor

F339
St Patricks Campus
Drumcondra


E:sandra.m.oneill@dcu.ie
Profile Photo

Sandra is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education in DCU's Institute of Education.

She is DCU's principal investigator for the EU funded OUTSTEAM project which focuses on supporting playful STEM learning outdoors.  Working with partners from Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, this three-year project will develop resources and guidelines for early childhood and primary settings.  

In 2019, Sandra founded the Early Childhood Steam Network at DCU and is it's current chair. The organisation aims to bring together early childhood educators interested in supporting STEAM in settings for children from birth to six years. The network provides professional development opportunities and a community of practice for educators, researchers and lecturers. 

Her research interests include STEM in early childhood education, early mathematics, post-digital play and children's participation. She is currently undertaking doctoral studies in the University of Sheffield with a focus on EC STEM policy, under the supervision of Dr Liz Chesworth.

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2019 Sandra O'Neill, Noirin Hayes (2019) 'Little changes, big results: the impact of simple changes to early years learning environments'. International Journal of Early Years Education, 39 (1):64-79. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2017.1342223
2022 McNally, S.,Downes, P., O (2022) 'The whole world was lifted off me: the importance of relational supports and peer mentoring for under-represented students accessing university in Ireland'. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46 (10):1319-1333. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2022.2075718
2021 O’Neill, S. (2021) '‘Hands-on experience has completely changed my perception of technology in Early Childhood’– an exploration on the impact of a technology module on the attitudes of Early Childhood undergraduates'. An Leanbh Óg: OMEP Ireland journal of early childhood studies, 14 (1):61-81.
2023 Sandra O'Neill; Córa Gillic; Nicola O'Reilly (2023) 'Hungry for more: early childhood educators'. Irish Educational Studies, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2023.2261903

Other Journal

Year Publication
2020 Sandra O'Neill (2020) 'Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom Starts with the Educator – An Exploration of the Use of Digital Tools by EC Undergraduates' 6 (1) :15-17. [Link]
2018 Sandra O'Neill (2018) 'Technology use in early learning and care - a practice dilemma' 2018 (3) :12-17.
2017 Sandra O'Neill, Joanne Roe (2017) 'The National Síolta Aistear Initiative' :123-127. [Link]
2016 Noirin Hayes, Sandra O'Neill, Triona Rooney, Emma Byrne-MacNamee (2016) 'Enhancing quality practice to enhance early learning: Strenthening Foundations of Learning' 3 (1) :35-41. [Link]
2021 O'Neill, S. (2021) 'Overcoming the Challenges to Participation Rights in Early Childhood Education and Care' Childlinks, 2 :14-19.
2018 O'Neill, S. (2018) ''Technology use in early learning and care - a practice dilemma'' Childlinks, 3 :12-17.

Conference Publication

Year Publication
2022 O’Neill, S., Gillic, C., & Power, J, W. (2022) National Early Years Research Day Proceedings, Early Childhood Ireland Using Communities of Practice to Support STEM Education in Early Childhood Care and Education: A Proposal
2021 Sandra O'Neill Cora Gillic and Julie Winget Power (2021) Online Research Symposium 2021; Researching Early Learning and Care in a Time of Uncertainty & Opportunity . In: Early Childhood Ireland eds. A proposal to support STEM Dublin, Ireland,
2021 O’Neill, S. (2021) Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI) . In: Grimes, P., & Kingston, M eds. An investigation into the incidence of numeracy advice in Early Years Education-focused Inspections in the Republic of Ireland DCU, Dublin, Ireland, 15/10/2021- 16/10/2021

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2021 Sandra O'Neill (2021) 30th Annual EECERA Conference Exploring Pre-service Educators Perspectives on Technology use in Early Childhood Zagreb, Croatia, 06/09/2021-10/09/2021.
2019 Sandra O'Neill (2019) Providing Nurturing Learning and Care Experiences for the Under 3’s; National Childhood Network Promoting the Rights of the Under 3's in Everyday Practice Athlone, Ireland, 06/04/2019-.
2019 Sandra O'Neill (2019) Relationship Matters & What Matters in Early Years Relationships: OMEP Ireland Annual Conference An Exploration of Rights; Supporting Rights of the Under 3's in Everyday Practice Cork, Ireland, 09/11/2019-.
2018 Sandra O'Neill (2018) Growing up in the digital environment; Annual conference of the Children’s Research Network Technology in the EC classroom starts with the educator an exploration of the use of digital tools by EC undergrads Dublin, Ireland, 06/12/2018-.
2018 Sandra O'Neill, Victoria Monkhouse (2018) Enquiring Minds; Celebrating Creativity and Curiosity In Early Childhood. OMEP Ireland Collaborative Community-Based Arts in Early Childhood Cork, Ireland, 28/04/2018-.
2018 Sandra O'Neill (2018) Here I am Conference; Kilkenny and Carlow Childcare Committees' Annual Conference Supporting children's emergent interests (Birth- 6 years) Kilkenny, Ireland, 10/11/2018-.
2017 Sandra O'Neill (2017) Quality Inside and Out, Meath CCC The Importance of Documentation & Assessment: 3-6 years Meath, Ireland, 13/12/2017-.
2017 Sandra O'Neill (2017) Right up to 3 Annual Conference Planning and Assessing Using Aistear (Birth-3 years) Kilkenny, Ireland, 11/11/2017-.
2021 Sandra O'Neill Cora Gillic and Julie Winget Power, (2021) Online Research Symposium 2021; Researching Early Learning and Care in a Time of Uncertainty & Opportunity STEM Education in ECEC - a proposal for supporting practice Dublin, Ireland, 23/04/2021-24/04/2021.

Blog

Year Publication
2020 Sandra O'Neill (2020) Choosing suitable apps for pre-school children (Early Childhood Ireland Scéalta blog). BLOG [Link]
2020 Sandra O'Neill (2020) Technology in early years settings (Early Childhood Ireland Scéalta blog). BLOG [Link]
2019 Sandra O'Neill (2019) Why is maths talk so important? (OMEP Blog Post). BLOG [Link]

Fact Sheet

Year Publication
2020 Sandra O'Neill (2020) STEM Glossary. FS

Podcast

Year Publication
2020 Sandra O'Neill (2020) Sweet Pea Podcast, STEM in Early Childhood Education. PODCAST
2019 Sandra O'Neill (2019) Sweet Pea Podcast, Technology in Early Childhood. PODCAST

Published Report

Year Publication
2022 French, G., McKenna, G., Giblin, F., Concannon-Gibney, T., Farrell, T., Gillic, C., Halligan, C., Lake, G., Ní Dhiorbháin, A., Ní Láimhín, M. & O’Neill, S. (2022) Literature review to support the updating of Aistear’s themes of Well-being, Identity and Belonging, Communicating and Exploring and Thinking. NCCA, . [Link]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Association Function From / To
OMEP Ireland Member 28/10/2018 -
Early Childhood STEM Network Founder 01/07/2019 -
Play Therapy Ireland Certified Practitioner 25/10/2009 - 25/10/2013
Children's Research Network Ireland and Northern Ireland EC SIG Secretary 18/10/2018 -
CASTeL Member 01/09/2020 -

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
01/01/2020 IOE Staff Research Travel Awards Scheme DCU, Institute of Education

Committees

Committee Function From / To
Teaching and Learning Working Group 01/06/2020 -
Programme Board Masters of Education (ECE) 01/09/2019 -
Faculty Ethics Review Panel 31/07/2019 -
Programme Board Bachelor of Early Childhood Education 01/10/2018 -
EC Artist in Residence Initiative (Dublin City Arts Office and Northside Partnership) 01/05/2017 -

Employment

Employer Position From / To
NCCA National Aistear Coordinator 01/09/2016 - 30/10/2017
Sophia Housing Association Nurturing Centre Manager/ Play Therapist 30/06/2007 - 31/08/2009
NCCA Project Worker - Aistear Síolta Practice Guide 01/09/2015 - 01/06/2016
Preparing for Life Síolta Coordinator / Quality Mentor 01/09/2008 - 01/06/2015

Research Interests

Research interests include STEM in early childhood, emergent and inquiry-based approaches to early learning, technology as a teaching and learning methodology, mathematics in early childhood education and children's citizenship and participation. 

Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Leading and Mentoring for Professional Practice Co-PI 01/12/2019 01/06/2021
Building E-Portfolio Confidence and Competence Co-PI 01/12/2019 30/06/2021
Strengthening Foundations of Learning Quality Mentor 02/09/2013 31/07/2015

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2022 Early Mathematics Learning EC302
2022 Technology in Learning EC305
2022 Partnership in Early Childhood Education EC401
2022 Transitions and Change in Early Childhood EC404
2022 Dissertation 2 and Research Tutorials EC407
2022 Children's Participation in ECE EC307
2022 Inquiry Based Learning in ECE EC413
2022 Professional Practice 4 EC408